Brianna Solberg, CFIB director of legislative affairs, Prairies and Northern Canada. (Donna Santos Studio)

By Lindsay Newman, CKOM News Staff

Small business owners putting in 59-hour work weeks due to labour shortages

May 1, 2023 | 8:58 AM

Saskatchewan continues to be affected by labour shortages, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

A survey released Monday showed 62 percent of Saskatchewan businesses are the most affected by staffing challenges.

Manitoba is also seeing similar results.

Brianna Solberg, the CFIB’s director of legislative affairs, told Greg Morgan Morning Show guest host Kevin Martel this isn’t a surprise.

“Those two provinces rely pretty heavily on immigration to grow their population and obviously we saw immigration temporarily halt during the pandemic, so it’s left kind of a gap in the labour market,” she said. “So we’re seeing a shortage of skilled and unskilled workers here.”

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Another thing the survey found was small business owners are putting in at least 59 hours a week to make up for the lack of staff.

Solberg called that a real problem.

“The only alternative would be for them to turn down sales contracts or decrease their services or opening hours, so their best option is to work harder themselves (and) work those extra hours just to remain open,” she said.

Solberg explained because these business owners are working more hours, they’re diverted from developing and implementing strategies to help them and the business.

She said that could impact the business owner outside of work as well.

“Many owners (who) work more hours don’t have time for family and friends and it can affect their mental health and well-being, so they’re looking to catch a break,” Solberg said.

As for why the labour shortages are happening, she said there isn’t a specific reason or a magic bullet solution.

But Solberg said governments could help.

“Any and all measures that aim to increase the available labour in the pool are essential, so for example, improving education to better prepare students for the job or improving or streamlining temporary foreign worker and immigration processes but also bring more workers that small businesses need,” she said.

Solberg also said she hopes something clicks for these small businesses soon to help solve the shortage of workers.